paper check ( who can finish in 90min)

Are you a white? Are you a man? Are you a Christian? If you failed to match up to these questions, it was difficult to assimilate into the mainstream society in 1930’s America. In 1930, white Christian men dominated society, so non-American or female could not get into mainstream. Although they have talent and equal ability with white men, their ability was disparaged and this unfairness of society was accepted in general. However, sexual discrimination and racism can not be embraced in today. Then, how can we know this? The answer is mass media, especially main stream mass media. Mass media reflect notion of society, social atmosphere and stereotypes of the age. As we can imagine 1930’s social conceptions from newspaper or movies in that time, today’s TV show reflect modern social conceptions. I watched TV show called Modern Family and this TV show presents modern America’s values and conceptions.

In Modern Family, there are three families consist of eleven characters. The main character named Jay Pritchett who has son and daughter and stepson. Jay Pritchett married to Gloria Pritchett who is Colombian. Jay Pritchett’s daughter Claire Pritchett married to Phil Dunphy and they have tow daughters and son. Jay Pritchett’s son Mitchell Pritchett is gay and he married to his partner Cameron Tucker and they have adopted daughter from Vietnam named Lily Tucker-Pritchett. Through theses eleven characters, I could assume how modern America society’s values have been changing and what social conceptions are accepted to Americans in today.

Jay Pritchett is successful American white male who married to Columbian woman named Gloria. In 1930s, successful white men were not married to non-white women. Non-white people could not assimilate into the white families. Therefore, Modern Family presents that America society has been increasingly diversified. Interracial married is a common practice in today. Gloria Pritchett has same right as American and she is not discriminated against her race and all of Pritchett family member respect Gloria for their family. In today’s America society, people are respected with their individuality regardless of race.

Claire Pritchett who is Jay Pritchett’s daughter married to Phil Dunphy. Claire Pritchett is powerful woman and she makes most decisions of what happens at home and her husband Phil follow Claire’s opinion. Claire and Phil’s daughter Alex is very smart student. Alex cares her grade than appearance. However, no one point out her values or belittle her capability. Alex gets the credit of her intelligence and ability. In the past, educated women derided their intelligence through main stream mass media. However, in today’s America society women has equal right as men and mass media cannot make a fool of women with no reason.

Jay Pritchett’s son Mitchell Pritchett is gay and his occupation is lawyer. Mitchell Pritchett married to his partner Cameron Tucker. Being gay is not a weakness in today’s America society and no one has right to criticize to a homosexual. Mitchell Pritchett is competent lawyer and his sexual identity is not a problem at work. Mitchell and Cameron adopted Vietnamese girl named Lily and they got married in California. America government allows gay parents adoption and gay marriage is legal in some of states in America. In contrast with TV show Modern Family, movie named Modern family in 1929 gay character act differently. In this film, a man who is gay pretend to like women thereby; he can cover his sexual identity in public. In 1929, homosexual were not respected. However, in today’s American society, people respect others sexual identity and accept differences.

Through watching Modern Family, I could assume America social conceptions and values in today. The most fundamental and important change in America is changing social perceptions. In today, various individualities and different values are respected and everyone has right in society regardless race, sex, sexual identity and values.